Seeing Beyond the Lens

I’ve always been drawn to the power of images – the way a single frame can tell a story, evoke an emotion, or freeze a fleeting moment in time. It’s remarkable. I still remember staring in amazement at the first print I produced in a traditional darkroom, watching as it emerged from nothing on a plain white sheet of paper, transforming into a fully formed representation of life. That was a long time ago – 40 years, I think – and while photography has evolved in ways I never could have imagined, I’m not entirely convinced it’s all been for the better.

I’ve watched people attend concerts yet never actually see the performance, their eyes locked onto a shaky phone screen as they film the entire show. I’ve seen travellers visit breathtaking locations, only to spend their time curating the perfect Instagram shot rather than standing still and taking it all in. It’s as if the modern world has traded real experiences for digital souvenirs – valuing proof of presence over the genuine feeling of actually being there.

In ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’, there’s a beautiful scene where the daring photographer Sean O’Connell observes a rare snow leopard as it steps into view from across the valley. He gestures for Walter to peer through his lens and witness the sight.

Walter Mitty: “When are you going to take it?”

Sean O’Connell: “Sometimes I don’t. If I like a moment, for me, personally, I don’t like to have the distraction of the camera. I just want to stay in it.”

Be like Sean!

Of course, for some, modern technology is groundbreaking. I remember when shooting on film, there was always that nagging thought: “I hope this one comes out!”. That’s inconceivable today, with instant results at our fingertips and the limitless attempts we can take to get it right. But there was also an undeniable magic in developing a roll of film, seeing the images for the first time, and exclaiming with joy, “Ohh, I forgot about that one!”. That little bit of distance between capture and final result made it all the more rewarding.

Lately, I’ve felt stuck in my photography, lacking the inspiration to shoot just for the joy of it. I want to capture something real, but I need a reset. That’s where “Live life by the ABCs” comes in. It’s a chance to create images that genuinely resonate with me – photos taken for personal meaning rather than external validation. I want to embrace a film-like approach, even when shooting digitally, where every frame holds value and exists with purpose, not just as a safety net in case the others don’t work out.

I’m looking forward to experiencing our ‘Slowmad’ journey, camera in hand, but with the intent to capture moments as they happen, rather than seeking them out just for the sake of an image. That way, there’s a genuine emotional connection to what I shoot, and ultimately, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of them.

And I’m happy with that, because in the end, the most important photographs aren’t necessarily the ones we share – they’re the ones that remind us we were really there.

Malaga City – Wine, Tapas, and Song.

Iceland – Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

Mijas – Here Comes the Sun

Dubrovnik – Bird’s Eye View

Ljubljana – Through a Window

Šipan Island, Croatia – Dead Calm